Combined propeller and steerer



3 SheetsSheet -1.

(No Model.).

W. MUELLER. COMBINED PROPELLER AND STEERER.

No. 462,572. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

WIYWESSES W.@KQQMIW M04 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheetf. W. MUELLER. COMBINED PROPELLER AND STEERER.

Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

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' W. MUELLER.

COMBINED PROPELLER AND STEERER. No. 462,572; Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

Allorney iUNiTEn STATES PATENT @EETcE.

\VILIiIAH MI EIILER, ()F S". LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CQIVIBINED PROPELLER AND STEERER.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,572, dated November 8, 1891.

Application filed May 20, 1891. Serial No. 393,477. (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM MUELLER, of the city of Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Boat Propeller and Steerer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompai'iying drawings, forming a part hereof.

ivIy invention relates to improvements in comb ned boat propellers and steerers; and it consists in the novel arrangei'nent and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my complete invention as applied to a boat. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line at of Fig. 2. Fig. 4r. is a perspective view of the mechanism which supports the gearing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism which holds my invention to the keel of a boat. Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the mechanism by which my invention is adjusted to and from the boat. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the gearing mechanism itself, through the agency of which motion is communicated or imparted to the propeller. Fig.8 is a similar section of the bevel-gear mechanism which I employ in carrying out my invention. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of one of the gear-wheels with the plate removed, showing the .interior mechanism; and Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a detached or removed plate.

The object of my invention is to construct a device preferably to be attached to the rear portion of a boat for propelling and steering the same, thereby dispensing with oars and lateral mechanism,which has heretofore been employed for effecting said result and purpose. By this construction of a propeller and steerer my invention is made more adaptable to propel boats in subterranean passages.

With these preliminary statements relative to the object and purpose of my invention, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the boat itself, which embodies the ordinary construction, and 2 indicates the propeller, which embodies the construction as illustrated in the drawings. However I do not wish to limit myself to the specific construction of the propeller as illustrated. Said propeller 2 is mounted in any suitable and mechanical manner on horizontal shaft 3, the same being similarly mounted in a frame-work i. Adjustably mounted on shaft 3 is a bevel gearpinion 5, the sameadapted to engage and mesh with a similarly-constructed bevelpinion (3, which is adjustably mounted 011 a vertical operatingshaft 7, the same being provided with a longitudinal groove 8, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The mechanism just described is supported upon a right-angular bar 9, the same being so constructed that it may be adjusted in a vertical direction through the agency of the mechanism hereinafter described. The object of this verticaladjustment is to make the propeller 2 susceptible of perfect and easy operation in shallow and deep water. It can also be readily perceived from this construction that the propeller 2, or, in other words, the mechanism which supports said propeller, may be elevated or lowered in water of dif' ferent depths. It can also be readily perceived by the construction, as I will now describe, that the propcller may be adjusted to and from the boat 1. This adjustment is ef fected by means of a graduated bar 11, one end of which is pivotally secured in any suitable and mechanical manner to the vertical bar 10, and the opposite end of the same is adapted to pass through a peculiarly-shaped supportii'lg device 12, as illustrated in Fig. 0. Said bar 11. is provided with depressions 13, in which a catch 1-1., secured to device 12, is adapted to engage, thereby holding the bar ll in the proper adjustment.

Pivotally secured to device ii in any suitable and mechanical manner is a U-shaped bar 15, the same adapted to snugly fit over keel 1(5 of boat I, the function of which is to hold device 12 in a suitable adjustment relative to the other coacting mechanism.

The vertical opera-tingbai" T is suitably mounted in a sleeve 17, (referring to Fig. 2,) which sleeve is concentrically placed in an outer sleeve 18, the function of which mech- ICO anism will be more fully hereinafter described. Bar 10 is provided with a groove, or rather with an U-shaped socket, in which bar 9 is adapted to loosely fit, thereby permitting the latter to be vertically adjusted in said groove; the proper adjustment of same being retained by means of a thumb-screw 19. Sleeve 18 is adjustably or, rather, rotatingly mounted on frame-work 20. It may be premised in this connection that the bevel-gear 6 is rigidly mounted on shaft 7, as can readily be perceived by referring to Fig. 2. It will also be readily perceived from the construction as hereinafter set forth that propeller 2 may be laterally adjusted. thereby effecting the proper'steerage of the boat. This lateral adjustment of propeller 2 is effected by means of a worm-pinion 21, mounted upon shaft 7, and a worm 22, adapted to engage with said pinion, the latter being actuated by the operatorlocated in the boat.

' The worm which engages with the wormpinion 21 is formed upon ashaft on which a wheel 23 is mounted in any suitable and mechanical manner. Said wheel is provided with projections 24, which make the same susceptible of being operated'by means of a chain 25, said chain 25 being first rotated or moved by means of a similar wheel 26, the same being mounted upon the boat in any suitable and mechanical manner, and also being provided with cranks 27. It may be premised in this connection that the bevelpinion 21 is rigidly mounted. in any suitable and mechanical manner to the outer sleeve 18, and consequently when said pinion is rotated the propeller and the system of bevelgears which operate the same are also turned in a lateral direction, by which the proper steerage of the boat is effected. In other words, if the operator desires to steer the boat 1 it is only necessary for him to turn wheel 26 and the coacting mechanism connected enter the inner sleeve 17. In other words,

the inner sleeve 17 may be adjusted in a vertical direction independently of sleeve 18; but by the construction as just described whenever sleeve 17 is rotated sleeve 18 is also simultaneously rotated, premising, however, that a block 32 is secured to screws 31 and is adapted to freely lit in slot or groove 29.

Having described the system of beveled gears which operate the propeller 2, I will now describe in detail the operatin -shaft 7 and the mechanism which rotates the same. I will describe in this connection, however, first, the mechanism by which my invention is held and secured in a proper position to the rear portion of boat 1, which is effected by means of a clamp 33, provided with a thumb-screw 34. Clamp 33 is provided with a perforation in which the bar '10 is adapted to fit, thereby preventing the samefrom turning. The clamp 33 is pivotally secured to arm 35, and said arm is secured to the cross-piece 36, the same being secured to frame-work 56. By this construction my device is equally adapted to be attached to any form of boat.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism which rotates shaft 7. The mechanism which effects said rotation is located in a frame-work 38, (see Fig. 2,) and said framework is held to bar 10 by means of a collar 39. Located inframe-work 38 is a similar framework 40, (see Fig. 4,) in which the gear-wheels 47 are located. Said frame-work 40 is provided with grooves 41, in which shaft 7 is adapted to fit, and also provided with depressions or grooves 42, in which a vertical guidebar 43 is adapted tofit. The vertical guidebar 43 is secured to the frame-work 38. (See Fig. 2.) Pivotally secured to frame-work 40 is an arm 44, and pivotally secured to said arm 44 is a lever 45, one arm of which lever is pivotally secured to an arm 46, secured to frame-work 38, and to the other arm of said lever a wire rope or chain 47-- is secured for operating the same. The frame-work 40 is mounted upon a spiral spring 48, which encircles the operating-shaft 7, the function of which spring is to restore the frame-w0rk40, and consequently the gear-wheels located in same, to their proper or normal position after the same has been once depressed or lowered. Mounted upon the operating-shaft7 are a series of four gear-wheels 47, of the construction Located in said gearas shown in Fig. 9. wheels are ratchet-wheels 48, the same being provided in the region of their center with lugs 49,the sameadapted to fit in groove 8, formed in the operating-bar 7. Pivotally secured in the region of the circumference of gear-wh eels 47 are dogs 50, which permit gearwheels 47 to move in one direction independently of the ratchet-teeth wheels 48, and when moved in the opposite direction the dogs 50 engage with ratchet-wheels 48, and consequently rotate said ratchet-wheels, and consequently the operating-shaft on which they are mounted. Dogs 50 are actuated by means of springs 51. The gear-wheels 47 have a face-plate 52, the same adapted to be readily detached for inspecting and. repairing the inner mechanism should it chance to get out of order.

Having described the construction of the gear-wheels 47, I will now proceed to describe the location of the same on the operatingshaft 7 and the rack-bars which operate and rotate the same.

Fig. 7 illustrates the relative position of the gear-wheels on the operating-shaft 7. 53 and 54indicate two rack-bars of similar construction which face each other, the ends of which IOR ICE

IIC

are connected together by means of bars Bar 5% is located in a plane below bar Said bars are located in a frame-work 56 and are adapted to freely move in a backward and forward direction. Said racks are adapted to engage with the gear-wheels 47. Framework 56 is mounted on and secured to crosspiece 36.

Referring to Fig. 7, the two lower gearwheels are so constructed and located that they propel the boat in a forward direction. In other words, the two lower wheels are an exact fac-simile of the wheel and ratchet-teeth wheel, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and are located on shaft 7, with their detachable faces turned upwardly.

The two upper wheels, as illustrated in Fig. 7, are constructed and adapted to propel the boat in a backward direction, and the ratchetwheel 48, located in the two upper, have their teeth oppositely formed to the ratchet-wheel in the two lower wheels. The rack-bar 54: engages with the lowest of the gear-wheels and rack-bar 53 engages with the next to the lowest, and whenever said rack-bars are pushed in a backward direction or pulled in a forward direction the two lowest of the gearwheels 47 move in opposite directions, but are so constructed that one of the said wheels 47 turns the ratchet-teeth wheel located therein, and consequently rotates the operatingshaft 7. For instance, if one of the said two wheels which propel the boat in a forward direction rotates its inclosed rathetteeth wheel when the rack-bars are pulled the other one of said wheels will rotate its inelosed ratchetwheel when the rack-bars are pushed.

The operation of the two upper wheels or those that are adapted to propel the boat in a backward direction is the same as the operation of the two lower wheels, but the differ enee in construction consists in the inner ratchet-teeth wheels, which are formed oppositelyto the two lower wheels. Of course when it is desired to propel the boat inabackward direction the two upper ratchet-teeth wheels are lowered and brought in engage ment with the rack bars 53 and 54: by means of frame-work 40, which is operated by the mechanism hereinbefore described.

The rack-bars 53 and 54 are operated in a forward and rearward direction by means of a handle 58, which may run the entire length of the boat. The handle 58 is pivotally secured in any mechanical manner to the bar 55, which connects the ends of said rack-bars. Said bars may be operated by hand-power, as hereinbefore stated, or by steam-power.

The right-angular bar 9 and the mechair ism mounted thereon is lowered and elevated by means of a cord or chain 59, one end of which is attached to said right-angular bar and the other end passes over a pulley and passes to the boat.

It maybe further observed that the mechanism which I employ in rotating the vertical operating-shaft 7 may be employed as the motive power in various classes of mechanism.

I do not wish to limit myself to the specific mechanical construction as illustrated and described. nor do I wish to limit myself to the eXact location of my invention relative to the boat as described.

Having fully described my invention,what I claim is 1.. In a combined boat propeller and steerer, a vertical rod having an offset lower end pivotally mounted at the stern of the boat, a frame pivoted on said offset portion, a propeller-shaft carrying a propeller mounted therein, a vertical shaft mounted in suitable frame-work and adapted to impart motion to the propeller-shaft, means to actuate said vertical shaft, and a device to operate said propeller-carryin frame, substantially as described.

2. In a combined boat propeller and steerer, a vertically-adjustable rod having an offset lower end mounted at the stern of the boat, a frame carrying a propeller pivoted on said offset portion, a vertical shaft to impart motion to the propeller-shaft, means to actuate said vertical shaft, telescopic sleeves surrounding the latter, the lower one being secured to the propeller-carrying frame, and means to actuate the sleeves, whereby said frame and propeller are operated to steer the boat, substantially as described.

3. In a combined boat propeller and steerer, a vertically-adjustable rod having an offset lower end mounted at the stern of the boat, a frame carrying a propeller pivoted on said offset portion, a vertical shaft to impart motion to the propeller-shaft, means to actuate said vertical shaft, telescopic sleeves surrounding the latter, the lower end being secured to the propeller-carrying frame, a wormwheel secured to the upper sleeve, a worm meshing therewith, and means to operate said worm, substantially as described.

4:. In acombined boat propellerand steerer, a vertically-adjustable rod having an offset lower end mounted at the stern of the boat, a frame at, pivoted thereon, a horizontal shaft carrying a propeller and a bevel-gear journaled thereon, a vertical shaft carrying a bevel-gear at its lower end meshing with said first-mentioned gear, means to operate said vertical shaft, telescopic sleeves surrounding the latter, one being connected to the frame and the upper one carrying a wornrwheel, a

Worm meshing with said wheel, and means to operate said worm, substantially as described.

5. Ina combined boat propeller and steerer, a vertically-adjustable rod having an offset lower end mounted at the stern of the boat,a frame carrying a propeller pivoted on said offset portion, a vertical shaft to impart motion to the propeller-shaft, means to actuate said vertical shaft, telescopic sleeves surrounding the latter, the lower one being secured to the propeller-carrying frame and the shaft, two series of ratchet-wheels and gear--' 'wheels and thence to the vertical shaft, substantially as described.

7. In a device for propelling b0a1s,a clamp 33, a framework pivoted thereto, a vertical shaft adapted to drive the propeller-shaft, ratchet-Wheels vertically adjustable on said shaft but rotating therewith, gear-wheels carrying pawls engaging with the ratchet-wheels, a reciprocating frame carrying rack-bars engaging said gear-wheels, each rack-bar engaging a different wheel, and the ratchetteeth of each wheel being turned in opposite directions, whereby the forward and backward movement of the frame will drive the vertical shaft in the same direction, substantially as described.

8. In a device for propelling boats, a vertical shaft adapted to drive the propeller- Wheels vertically-adjustable on said firstmentioned shaft, a reciprocating frame carrying rack-bars, and a frame adapted to throw either series of wheels into engagement with the said rack-bars, substantiallyas described.

9. In a device for propelling boats, a vertical shaft adapted to'drive the propellershaft,-iwo series of gear-wheels verticallyadjustable on said first-mentioned shaft, the wheels of each series being adapted to impart motion to the shaft when revolved in opposite directions, a frame carrying rack-bars to operate the gear-wheels, a frame 40 inclosing said Wheels and adapted to throw either series into engagement with the rack-bars, a spring supporting said frame, a guide on which the frame moves, and means to operate said frame, substantially as described.

10. In a device for propelling boats, a clamp adapted to engage the boat and having an aperture therein, a vertical bar passing therethrough, a frame carrying a propeller carried by said vertical bar, a propeller,

mechanism to operate the same, a frame-work carrying said mechanism and pivoted to clamp 33, and an adjustable bar 11, connecting the lower end .of the vertical bar which passes through the clamp with the heel of the boat, substantially as described.

11. In a device for propelling boats, a

frame-Workcarrying the operating mechan- 

